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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 34(1)

Oral toxicity of p-aminopropiophenone to ferrets

P. Fisher A and C. O’Connor B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand.

B Biosecurity New Zealand, Animal Welfare Group, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand.

Wildlife Research 34(1) 19-24 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR06125
Submitted: 19 September 2006  Accepted: 30 January 2007   Published: 27 February 2007

Abstract

Ferrets (Mustela furo) are pests in New Zealand and new methods are being sought for their control. The hydrochloride form of p-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) was highly toxic to ferrets when delivered by gavage, with LD50 and LD99 values of 15.52 and 20.80 mg kg–1, respectively. Signs of toxicosis progressed through pallor and cyanosis, impaired coordination, prostration with reduced responses to stimuli, with death in ~2 h. In a preliminary assessment of effective doses of PAPP in bait, 19 of 20 ferrets consumed chick carcasses containing ~46 mg PAPP within 40 min. Ferrets that ate chick baits all showed signs of toxicosis, with 32% mortality. Three ferrets died within 151 min and the other three within the following 14 h. Ferrets that died ingested 29.9–79.3 mg PAPP per kilogram bodyweight. The low mortality was attributed to decreased bioavailability of PAPP delivered in food, and increased doses need to be tested to establish an effective lethal concentration of PAPP in baits for ferrets. Future development of bait formulations will also need to take into account the role of emesis in reducing efficacy. Bait formulations incorporating microencapsulated PAPP may improve bioavailability and the basis for a new option for the management of ferrets in New Zealand.


Acknowledgements

This work was research contracted by the Animal Health Board, New Zealand. All procedures involving animals were conducted with approval from the Landcare Research Animal Ethics Committee (Project No. 03/05/02). Thanks to Andrea Airey, Julie Turner, Karen Washbourne, Vicki Bunt and Michael Wehner for assisting with the trials and for the husbandry and care of the ferrets. Thanks also to Bill Simmons (Animal Control Products Ltd) for information about diphacinone paste, Guy Forrester for statistical advice, Dave Morgan, Phil Cowan, Andrea Byrom and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on earlier drafts, and Christine Bezar for editing.


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